back from the trip to the snowed land

first of all, somethings that you must always know about [at least while visiting himachal]:-

1. differentiate between himachal tourism and himachal road transport bus service. they look no different from each other [as none have any uniqueness to themselves] and taxi/auto drivers might drop you on the other's respective terminal just to make money [or out of ignorance].

2. do not rent a swimsuit in advance if you do not want to roam around hiding just your groin when you haven't seen the sea [it could be the dry crater which 'used to be' a sea in neolithic ages]; same goes for skiing, if you do not have a report on snow condition, do not hire skiing material and instructor [who will instruct you more on how to ski than the exercise itself because there is no snow to ski upon].

3. central heating and hot water should be your priority when you are honeymooning to a place where the night temperatures are consistently below zero [no point in dying of pneumonia after honeymoon].


now, the trip:-

volvo was comfortable but not flawless. some sections after manali were truly nice. green waters of beas river flowing along the road were awesome. it wasn't no more than a stream but very beautiful. somehow the size of boulders impress me a lot. and i start thinking how horrific would it look when they are falling from above. although it must be ages since they must have fallen but the scare remains.

there isn't much to do in manali except for not so huge mall. i loved the stroll in the reserved nature park running parallel to the mall more. with huge deodars, the walk lends you peace. eating places in there are wanting. and i haven't eaten better paranthas anywhere other than shimla. i don't know what is it with people making tandoori paranthas. you have to eat tawa paranthas in the breakfast. tandoori ones never impress me as much. the crowed sucked - both in quality and quantity.

there is this chinese restaurant called chopsticks in manali. i don't like chinese - but i guess that is on account of lack of really good chinese joints [cooks]. this one was one of those i really liked. the ambiance was great - a lot like j j cafe in mcleodganj, just triple in size. this is one thing i would recommend everybody should try. also, the tomato cream soup in the gozy restaurant, some 50 paces apart from chopsticks is extra sour but good.

i have transfered the pics, but i don't know how soon would i upload them. hopefully soon.

there is something a lot beautiful about falling snow. i don't know if it is the colour white, or the slowness of pace at which the snow falls or the way flakes dance as if enjoying their own purity.